Following the publication of the biography, ‘Here Comes The Night,’ and the opening of ‘Piece Of My Heart,’ a Broadway musical based on his story, there's been a big resurgence of interest in Bert Berns. A documentary film is also nearing completion. With all that in mind, the time seems right to release ‘Hang On Sloopy,’ Ace's third collection of work by the talented and charismatic New York-based songwriter and record producer.
Berns, who suffered from rheumatic fever as a youngster, was driven by the knowledge his days were probably numbered, and crammed a lot into his brief career. The collection spans ‘(I'm Gonna) Cry Some Tears’ by Hoagy Lands from 1960, which numbers among his earliest recorded songs, through to ‘Open Up Your Soul’ by Erma Franklin from 1967, one of his final productions.
Recordings by the Drifters, Ben E King, Wilson Pickett, LaVern Baker, Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles, Solomon Burke and Tami Lynn represent Berns' time as house producer at Atlantic Records, while tracks by the McCoys, Arsenio Rodriguez, Van Morrison, Freddie Scott, Roy C and Erma Franklin stem from his own Bang and Shout labels. Berns died on the last day of 1967, aged just 38, leaving behind a very impressive body of work.